Ruby slipper-wearing Judy Garland was one of the most beloved actresses of Hollywood's golden era. While her sudden passing was unfortunate, her exuberant voice lives on in a legacy of classics and musicals still enjoyed by many today. Find out more on this edition of Fast Facts.
Fast Facts:
- Born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA on June 10, 1922
- Started singing with her two sisters, Mary Jane and Dorothy Virginia, as part of the Gumm Sisters
- Starred in the classic “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and was paid $500 for the project
- Originally sang “Over The Rainbow” from the aforementioned film, which claimed the #1 spot in The American Film Institute’s list of “The 100 Years of The Greatest Songs”
- Was considered an icon in the gay community in the 1950s and 1960s
- Married five times and had three children, including singer-actress Liza Minnelli
- Suffered from nervous breakdowns, attempted suicide and developed alcohol problems
- Bounced back in 1954, starring in the musical remake of “A Star Is Born” wherein she was paid $100,000 plus 50% of profits for the film
- Aired one season of “The Judy Garland Show" in 1963
- Passed away on June 22, 1969 from a barbiturate overdose during her concert in Chelsea, London. She was 47.
Quotes:
- “In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people.”
- “I wanted to believe and I tried my damndest to believe in the rainbow that I tried to get over and couldn’t. So what? Lots of people can’t…”
- “When you have lived the life I’ve lived, when you’ve loved and suffered, and been madly happy and desperately sad — well, that’s when you realize you’ll never be able to set it all down. Maybe you’d rather die first.”
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